The terrible recent events in Parkland, Fla., are saddening to everyone with a heart. I agree we have to do something to stop the killing.

The answer is not more gun control, as everyone is demanding. In order for gun control to work, it would require banning and confiscation of all semiautomatic rifles and handguns. Here is why: There is no functional differences between an "assault weapon" and any other semiautomatic rifle. The only difference is cosmetic meaning that they appear different. An assault weapon is defined by law as any semiautomatic rifle with a detachable magazine and having two or more of the offending features that make it an “assault weapon.” Features like a telescoping stock, a muzzle brake, etc. make it so. None of these things change the rate of fire or increase its power.

So it makes no sense to eliminate the assault weapon only. This leaves all the other semiautomatic rifles with exactly the same ability to cause harm. Therefore, the only logical gun control solution is a total ban and confiscation of them all. By the way, one would have to ban all the handguns, too, because most of all the murders are committed with them.

CLOSE

FL Senator tells Stoneman students lawmakers are working as fast as they can to address gun violence
James Call

The American people love their freedom and will not allow such a draconian solution.

We must face the fact that there are new, evil forces facing us in this modern society. The solution is to harden the soft target, which is our schools. We must install armed security in the form of whatever it takes to deter these monsters. These perpetrators must fear that they will suffer the consequences of their evil intentions. The fact that they may face equal opposition will deter them, because they are cowards and will only attack the vulnerable and defenseless.

Our children deserve the resources and effort required to protect them. If we do not do this, the attacks will continue and that is not acceptable.

Protesters gathered outside of the Florida Capitol Building, Wednesday, in support of gun reform. The protest comes one week after the shooting in Parkland, Fla. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, that left 17 people dead.
Andrew Salinero, USA TODAY NEWORK

A survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting massacre called out President Trump at the rally in Tallahassee on Wednesday, asking him, "Mr. President, what is my life worth?"
Andrew Salinero, USA TODAY NEWORK

Brandon Wolfe, a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub massacre, addresses the crowd at the rally in Tallahassee, alongside students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "Do your job, or stay out of our way!" he emphasized to the crowd and to lawmakers in attendance.
Andrew Salinero, USA TODAY NEWORK

Former American astronaut Scott Kelly walks out of the Florida Capitol building in Tallahassee. Kelly became an advocate for gun control after his wife, Gabby Giffords, was nearly assassinated in Casas Adobes, Arizona on Jan. 8th, 2011.
Andrew Salinero, USA TODAY NEWORK

Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum marches with Florida State students down College Avenue in Tallahassee on their way to the Florida Capitol to support gun reform. Feb. 21, 2018.
ANDREW SALINERO, USA TODAY NETWORK VIA THE FSVIEW

Jodi-Ann Henningham, right, and Jeremiah Carter, both FAMU students from Broward County lead chants as students from the university head to the Old Capitol to join thousands of others for a rally against gun violence, championed by survivors of last week’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Feb. 21, 2018.
JOE RONDONE, USA TODAY NETWORK

A rally against gun violence in Florida culminates at the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. as Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors lead the way on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.
JOE RONDONE, USA TODAY NETWORK VIA THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students walk to the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. The students are in town to lobby the Florida Legislature to push for gun control laws after 17 people were killed last week by at their Parkland, Fla. school.
Hali Tauxe, Tallahassee Democrat via USA TODAY NETWORK

A rally against gun violence in Florida culminates at the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. as Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors lead the way Feb. 21, 2018.
JOE RONDONE, USA TODAY NETWORK VIA THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

A rally against gun violence culminates at the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. as Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors lead the way on Feb. 21, 2018.
JOE RONDONE, USA TODAY NETWORK VIA THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School parent Sergia Felix becomes emotional on Feb. 20, 2018 as she remembers the fear she felt when she learned that there was a shooter at her child's school on Feb. 14, 2018, as she and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students meet with legislators at the Florida Capitol.
Hali Tauxe, Tallahassee Democrat via USA TODAY NETWORK

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School freshman Emma Stravitz, 14, listens during a meeting with a senator during a visit with fellow students to the Florida Capitol on Feb. 21, 2018. Wednesday. Stravitz was in the freshman building when a shooter infiltrated her school last week killing 17 people.
Hali Tauxe, Tallahassee Democrat via USA TODAY NETWORK

Survivors from the fatal shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School arrive at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Feb 21, 2018. The students are in town to lobby the Florida Legislature to push a ban on the assault-style rifle used to kill over a dozen people a week ago.
Mark Wallheiser, AP

Tallahassee high schoolers descend on the Florida Capitol to join students from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School to push lawmakers for gun and school safety laws, Feb. 21, 2018.
Karl Etters, USA TODAY NETWORK